Shawn Mendes Teaches You Canadian Slang With Vanity Fair

[stewie_e]

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Twink of Pop™ Shawn Mendes, Pickering, Canada native, schools us in Canadian slang. From “26” to “beauty,” Shawn will leave you saying “what you' sayin” after this episode of Slang School.

Pickering, Canada SlangAjax

Comments

[xellabelle]

To Canadians/Americans - can you tell the difference between Canadian and American accents?

Because I can't at all in terms of the "standard" accents but I'm not Canadian or American

[ahkna]

If they're an actor, not really because a Canadian accent is quite close to a Midwestern US accent, but if there's someone talking on a true crime show or something, I can usually pick out the Canadian because even though the accent is generally similar, there's a different cadence and style to the way Canadians speak, in general.

[xellabelle]

Interesting! What would you say the main differences are in terms of cadence and style?

[onyxobsidian]

If someone has a "standard" way of talking, like they're from a major city, usually all you can pick up on is the "oo" sound.

About:
American: Ah-Bowt
Canadian: Ah-Boht

The word "out" in Canadian sounds like they're saying "oat" to me. Also, some but not all Canadians pepper their speech with "eh" in a way of a confirmation at the end of a sentence. So instead of, "That was a great meal, right!" "That was a great meal eh!"

[weighty_ghost]

Yeah, it's definitely in the O sound (but NOT A-boot no matter how much Americans try to make that a thing).

[onyxobsidian]

Haha I followed up my comment that "aboot" might be from a rural area -- but yes, I am american. I've spent a ton of time in Canada and when people say "aboot!" for Canada I'm like, eh, it's a lot softer. Which is why I compared it more to "oat"

I'm assuming you're Canadian? Would you say "oat" and "about" rhyme?

[weighty_ghost]

I've said "about" out loud like 10 times trying to hear it and I say about like it rhymes with out.

There are times it may slip out like it rhymes with oat... like maybe thats when the drunk true accent comes out and all the rural friends are hanging together.

[onyxobsidian]

From all the Canadians I've met, I'd say the 'canadian accent' in that aspect is less common than saying it how I think most americans sound.

[justrachna]

I am canadian and I think oat is true for me when I say about. As much as I want to pretend I don’t, I have to be realistic and own up to my goofy Canadian accent despite being born and raised in mostly large cities lol

[vibeology_e]

As a Canadian, I wouldn't say that about and oat rhyme. My mouth makes two totally different shapes to say those words. But Canada is obviously huge geographically so I can't say that's true across the board. But I've also spent my whole life in a large (for Canada) city and accents tend not to be as strong in cities.

[ahkna]

I always wonder why the American version of a Canadian accent sounds like it's just from Minnesota.

[onyxobsidian]

I don't watch CBC or anything, but in Canadian broadcasting do they usually hire people who have a neutral accent who could be from anywhere in North America? No one on Schitts Creek has a discernible accent, which I think is the biggest canadian media exposure I think we have.

So we hear the "oot and aboot" thing, then watch Drop Dead Gorgeous or Fargo and say "close enough" I guess.

[ahkna]

Yeah, unless it's a specific region.

Most American television shows have 1-2 Canadians on the cast and you can't really tell the difference. That's why US shows love to film in Toronto and Vancouver because you can cast minor roles from locals and they don't sound hugely different.

[allstar12]

I found the actress that played Jocelyn was the only recognizable accent for me. It was definitely over-emphasized (cause I know she doesn't actually sound like that) but it's something I've heard in areas of Ontario.

[onyxobsidian]

I believe it was played up because I feel like I’ve seen her in the ending documentary... but her Jocelyn accent sounds straight up Minnesotan. But I imagine there’s a lot of bleeding over so Canadians prolly have the same accent in that area

[iznanassi]

The News Anchors have accents but actors/actresses usually don't unless the intent of the show is to depict a smaller town. I think in these days though they're moving away from that and even the shows in Toronto have hints of accents, but as a kid Degrassi characters definitely didn't have accents.